Strange Behaviour from the Alarm

[davelittlewood]

Hi all,

98 S plate Chimaera with the Meta Alarm.

Two days ago the alarm stopped responding to the clickers.
Yesterday it worked again but the alarm is acting up.

The micro switch on one clicker is a bit knackered and the PCB had moved in the other clicker to the button didn't actually press on the microswitch.
Got one clicker that works OK now.

When arming:
- Doors lock
- lights flash four times but continue to flash at a slow rate with the odd double flash
- I can wave about in the cabin with no alarm response - so the microwave detector isn't triggering or the alarm ignores it
When unarming:
- Doors unlock
- lights flash one

Any one seen this before???

Cheers.
Dave

[taylormj4]

I seem to remember that there was a function that allowed the alarm to be set without the mircowave sensor armed and that it made the lights flash differently to verify it had entered that mode. You had to hold the button down for longer or something. Maybe that's it. I can check my original paperwork for the alarm if you like.

[davelittlewood]

No, not really that.

The hazard light flash two or three times like normal and then start to flash in an odd pattern. Some times a really long interval (twice the gap as usual) and some times a couple of quick flashes.

Has some pointers towards to the microwave transmitter not being allowed to set.

[QBee]

I have a new system, so may not be the same as yours. One flash of the indicators means unlocked, two means locked.

On my original Meta system, I loved the beep, beep, beep, beep, accompanied by two flashed of the indicators, on locking the car.............until it was pointed out to me that this meant that one of the orifice closure sensors was not closing, so was flagging up the fault. In the case of my car it was the bonnet closure sensor. A quick adjustment and it reverted back to a silent two flashes on locking.

Your flashing symptoms suggest to me that something is not allowing the system to set fully, of which you are being warned, so it is a case of going round the doors, bonnet and boot and making sure that all the micro-switches are working properly. I did try looking all this up in the Bible.....to no avail.

[fausTVR]

I thought the standard Meta system only worked on the doors, albeit the boot makes sense?

[QBee]

Bonnet and boot as well.

[Tinker15]

QBee said:

Bonnet and boot as well.

I don't know about the boot but I can't see any wires going to the bonnet catch on my April 1998 Chimaera. Was this only fitted to later models?




To the OP if you are still having problems it may be worth having a word with David Fairclough from HF Solutions who used to work for Meta Systems and is very helpful. Contact details:

David Fairclough
Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

HF Solutions
9 Bucks Avenue,
Watford,
Herts
WD19 4AR

[QBee]

Here's mine - late 99 V reg



The alarm contact is the push plunger on the left

[davelittlewood]

Well I've half fixed it, in that I now know what the problem is, the microwave transmitter was triggering the alarm.

I've found a blue wire with the core exposed, I guess it must have been earthing on something??

If I set the alarm and wave my arm around in the car then the light on the microwave lights up and the hazards flash.

I disconnected the microwave and it works OK, re-connected and it works OK again.

I'll stick some heat shrink over the end, rebuild and see what happens

Edited by davelittlewood on Thursday 12th June 13:29

[Leckypete]

Out of interest where is the microwave unit fitted, cant see any sensors in my car, i fitted a new sounder that now works but not sure about microwave unit?
Mine has standard Meta system, flashes 4 times when locked, once when unlocked.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Leckypete said:

Mine has standard Meta system, flashes 4 times when locked, once when unlocked.

The standard Meta system flashes twice when locked, not four times. Are you sure you don't have a faulty microswitch on the boot or bonnet (or possibly door), and the alarm is trying to warn you of that? On my '99 T-reg, the alarm beeps four times (never noticed if it flashes as well) if it's not happy about something when locking.

[davelittlewood]

Leckypete said:

Out of interest where is the microwave unit fitted, cant see any sensors in my car, i fitted a new sounder that now works but not sure about microwave unit?
Mine has standard Meta system, flashes 4 times when locked, once when unlocked.

Pete,

Edited to remove the details about the location of the microwave sensor.

PM me if needed

Dave

Edited by davelittlewood on Thursday 12th June 13:30

[davelittlewood]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Leckypete said:

Mine has standard Meta system, flashes 4 times when locked, once when unlocked.

The standard Meta system flashes twice when locked, not four times. Are you sure you don't have a faulty microswitch on the boot or bonnet (or possibly door), and the alarm is trying to warn you of that? On my '99 T-reg, the alarm beeps four times (never noticed if it flashes as well) if it's not happy about something when locking.

According to my manual it flashes the hazards 4 times, which it does.
With the microwave unplugged I got 4 flashes and no probs.

[Tinker15]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

The standard Meta system flashes twice when locked, not four times. Are you sure you don't have a faulty microswitch on the boot or bonnet (or possibly door), and the alarm is trying to warn you of that? On my '99 T-reg, the alarm beeps four times (never noticed if it flashes as well) if it's not happy about something when locking.

I think the M99T on earlier models (like my early '98) flashed four times. The later M99T2 flashed twice.

Bill

[QBee]

I am reliably informed by my TVR guy (lets call him "Mat") that no Chimaera has alarm contacts on the boot, and only a few have the alarm contact on the bonnet.

When my 1999 Meta was faulty it flashed twice in time with 4 beeps. After the bonnet catch was adjusted it only flashes twice, no beeps. Changing the alarm to the latest revised Meta made no difference.

HTH

[Barreti]

Thanks Dave

[Leckypete]

Mine is a early 98 with the T99 Meta system, handbook states 4 flashes when locking, 1 when un-locking.
Alarm now sounds when doors opened but not sure the microwave is working properly, cant see any sensors in cabin (maybe thinking of ultrasonic as have on my Fiat Coupe)
Have sent PM to Dave to find out where it is hiding to test it.
I bought a unit off e-bay for a meta system off a Griffith but when i had dash top up to change sounder cable couldnt see any connections on my alarm that looked like the microwave for the Griff?

Peter.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Didn't realise the number of flashes changed - thanks for the correction!

QBee said:

I am reliably informed by my TVR guy (lets call him "Mat") that no Chimaera has alarm contacts on the boot, and only a few have the alarm contact on the bonnet.

Not sure what "Mat" means by that, but mine definitely does the four beeps thing if you attempt to lock it when the boot lid is open. I can't say whether the alarm would sound if you were to force it open somehow though.

[QBee]

Interesting point Dr Mike - I have a new Meta system, installed by Carl Baker last year, with the boot opener on the key, and if I plip that too quickly after unlocking the car it beeps four times.....I will do more research (ie email Carl) and get back to everyone.

[QBee]

Leckypete said:

Mine is a early 98 with the T99 Meta system, handbook states 4 flashes when locking, 1 when un-locking.
Alarm now sounds when doors opened but not sure the microwave is working properly, cant see any sensors in cabin (maybe thinking of ultrasonic as have on my Fiat Coupe)
Have sent PM to Dave to find out where it is hiding to test it.
I bought a unit off e-bay for a meta system off a Griffith but when i had dash top up to change sounder cable couldnt see any connections on my alarm that looked like the microwave for the Griff?

Peter.

I know where sensor is - PM me if you need to know.